Devotions on “John 14:15-21” The Holy Spirit is Our Comfort

These “John 14:15-21 devotions explain the promise that Jesus would send a comforting Holy Spirit. We’ve compiled the following devotionals to help you grow in your faith and understanding of God’s Word. Use them for personal Bible study or when preparing a sermon or Sunday School lesson on this passage.

Discover how to love and rely on the person of the Holy Spirit—and embrace how much He … Each name that He has been given—Helper, Comforter, Advocate, … Anne Graham Lotz, called “the best preacher in the family” by her father Billy …

Scripture for Meditation and Memory

Bible Commentary on John 14:16

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(16) And I will pray the Father.–Comp. Note on John 16:26. The pronoun is again emphatic–“I have given you your part to do. I on My part will pray the Father.” The word used for “pray” is one which implies more of nearness of approach and of familiarity than that which is rendered “ask” in John 14:14. It is the word which John regularly uses when he speaks of our Lord as praying to the Father, and occurs again in John 16:26; John 17:9; John 17:15; John 17:20. The distinction is important, but it has sometimes, perhaps, been unduly pressed. Both words occur in 1John 5:16. (See Note there.)

And he shall give you another Comforter.–The better rendering is probably another Advocate. The word is used of the third person in the Holy Trinity here, and in John 14:26, and in John 15:26 and John 16:7. In each of these instances it is used by our Lord. It is found once again in the New Testament, and is there applied by St. John to our Lord Himself (1John 2:1). In the Gospel the English version uniformly translates it by “Comforter.” “In the Epistle it is rendered by “Advocate.” But the whole question is of so much interest and importance that it will be convenient to deal with it in a separate Note. (Comp. Excursus G: The Meaning of the word Paraclete.) The word “another” should be observed as implying that which the Epistle states–the advocacy of the second Person in the Trinity, as well as that of the third.

That he may abide with you for ever.–The thought of the permanent abiding is opposed to the separation which is about to take place between them and the person of our Lord. He would come again to them in the person of the Paraclete, whom He would send to them (John 14:18), and this spiritual presence should remain with them for ever. (Comp. Note on Matthew 28:20.)

Teaching John 14:15-21 for Kids

John 14:15-21 English Standard Version (ESV)

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

“If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will bein you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” –John 14:15-21